Inquire Within Counseling integrates psychological therapy with spiritual and religious perspectives. It is grounded in modern psychology's valuable knowledge of ego development as well as the inner wisdom of many spiritual traditions.

The emphasis of this work is to become present to one’s experience. Typically we might notice a desire to keep an arm’s length away from what we are actually feeling perhaps because it is painful or seems inappropriate. Or we may want to hold on to a pleasant or gratifying experience and not want it to change. Out of such preferences, we gradually develop many ways to keep from having a direct, unmediated experience of our life. These may include habitual patterns of behavior and automatic thoughts and reactions which can result in our feeling limited, constricted, stressed, judgmental, and out of touch with ourselves

On the contrary, when we actually show up for the experience we are having, we feel authentic and in touch with ourselves, we are aware of more options in our life and we are on the path to our wholeness which is always already present.
Parvati Maggie Grais, MA and CAGS (Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study) brings to her work thirty years as a student of contemplative and spiritual disciplines.  In 1975, she was an original member of the Sufi community, The Abode of the Message, in New Lebabon, NY founded by Pir Vilayat Khan.

Currently Parvati is a student of the Diamond Approach as taught by A.H. Almaas.  This study of the development of the ego and personality integrated with the knowledge of consciousness and practice of mindfulness informs Parvati's work as a psychotherapist.

As an educator, Parvati has many years of experience working with children, parents and teachers.  She was Director and Teacher at Mt. Road School, an elementary school for pre-school through grade six.  She has also worked as an Educational Therapist, Therapeutic Teacher and Guidance Counselor.

Parvati is a certified Psychosynthesis Counselor since 1986.  She is also a 1996 graduate of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Internship Program formerly located at UMass Medical Center.

In addition to her private practice, Parvati teaches meditation and stress reduction.  In Spring '04, Parvati joins the teaching staff of Sufi Retreats, a process of spiritual transformation based on the teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan.  She also serves on the Board of Directors of Cutchins Programs for Children and Families. 
• 60 minute hour
• Sliding scale
•Amherst and Northampton offices
• Phone: (413) 548-9489
• Email: parvati@rcn.com
ILLUSTRATION BY PARVATI'S FATHER,
SAM GRAIS